By Gavin Mackintosh
British children whose unmarried mums were born abroad are not British citizens, the Home office has today said.
Under Uk law, the British nationality of a child’s father does not automatically pass unto the child , if the mother of the child was born abroad and not married to the father. There has generally been the understanding that all children born and raised in the Uk are automatically British. 21 year old Shane Ridge from Lancashire, was told in a letter from the Home office that his drivers license could be revoked because he has no lawful basis to be in the Uk.
His mother was born in Australia during a family holiday, but has lived in Britain ever since and has a dual nationality. However, the fact his parents did not marry means he does not have an automatic right of citizenship, and has to apply for ”right of abode”, the home office said in a letter to the 21 year old. The youngster has been told to leave Britain, risk jail, or a £5,000 fine for living illegally in the UK. The home office has been working with the DVLA, NHS and banks, to stop access to benefits and services for those with no lawful basis to be in the UK.
His younger brother and sisters are not in the same predicament as him because his mother married their dad. The new developing law since 2006 is unclear to many British citizens and residents of the UK. It’s meaning is clear that children born to one of two parents born outside the Uk are principally seen as citizens of their mother of birth unless the mother has married the father , who is of British citizenship.
Worried mr, Grudge who is extremely told the Guardian :
”I went to apply for right of abode myself after receiving this letter, and was told by the Home office that I need to apply for British citizenship first before I can do that.
”The laws on this have apparently changed in 2006 and they have changed backwards and forwards throughout the years. I just don’t understand how they have just got through to me now. I even have a birth certificate with my dad’s signature on it, he is British“ . If I cannot get dual citizenship or right of abode, or this isn’t a mistake, I don’t know what I’ll do”.
CONFUSED
“I’m confused and worried I’ll have to leave my entire family behind and move to a country that I don’t know. I don’t understand it because I was born in the Uk and did my G.C.S.E ‘s here, I’ve worked for six years, I pay tax and national insurance. Me and my girlfriend rented a house, I vote, I use the NHS, and opened a bank account without any problems ever”, he said. Evidently desperate, the young lad is looking for support and wants the Home office pressured into reviewing it’s stance. He has taking his story to the UK press to mount pressure on the Home office to feel ashamed of their operations.
A call from the eye of media.com to the Home office for an elaboration of Grudge’s predicament received no formal response, although a home office spokesperson, when probed, told the eye of media.com that ”the rules surrounding right of abode and British citizenship is being applied to all uk citizens equally”. Everyone who receives a letter from the home office to this effect, has a right of appeal, but the home office is expected to give a full explanation in the next coming days.
Clarity on matters of residential status in every country is important, and really, the rules should be taught to children from a young age. Marriage has always provided a concrete platform for British residency in the uk, but the laws have gradually been slowly modified over the years . Several children and parents would be unaware of the detail that accompanies the laws of automatic rights of citizenship, the precise reason full explanations are necessary.